Weighted Retinex algorithm based on histogram for dental CT image enhancement

Due to the low dose system, dental CT image often suffers from serious noise and low contrast. Classic enhancement methods enhance the detail contrast as well as the noise, especially in the background and soft tissues regions. According to the histogram of dental CT image, a weighted Retinex method is proposed which reduces the noise amplification and over enhancement artifacts in the homogeneous regions and keeps the details enhancement in teeth. Experiments based on clinical data have proved that the proposed method is more effective and practical for dental CT image enhancement.